Why They Do, What They Do

The article I read is reliable. Because it shows the first hand experience of a man who is close the subject and is and intelligent person who is well edujated. Overall his veiws are smart and well thoughtout. Therefore this is a reliable source. 

Everything that happens, happens for a reason and this is true for theatre. Howard Shalwitz Is a Director at Wooly Mammoth Theatre. Before he found theatre he decided he wanted to be a doctor, then a Philosopher, and then a teacher. He tells us that him mother did not think that his career path was a good option, so he made a list of 7 reasons why theatre matters. His first reason is that no harm comes from theatre. This group of people do not encourage others, or get encouraged themselves, to partake criminal or immoral activities. Theatre is a healthy way to get out and get your mind off the problems in your life for a little while.

His second point is that people take things away from the shows and their morals. They are good ways to teach people various types of lessons about various issues. It also encourage people to be more imaginative in the way a child likes to imagine things. Learning and imagination are what make great people do great things. The third point Shalwitz makes is that theatre brings people together in way that is like no other. It is a positive way for people to have fun, get together, and be free to feel. It is a more intellectual and thoughtful experience that watching movies and television.

Theatre helps people to learn how to listen and talk in an argument or debate. It even has an impact on how we live in a modern democratic society. It also help us emphasize and empathize the hardships and struggles of others. All of these regardless of the show a presented in how the characters interact, because it is a writer's job to have realistic exchanges, despite the fact the both people would know what the other was going to say. In fact many playwrights have become democratic leaders. In South Africa playwright fought against Apartheid. His fifth point is that theatre helps to strengthen education and language skills. When a person is watching characters interact it requires quick thinking in order to understand what is happening. It also teaches people about history and different parts of the world that a person could learn about otherwise, but may be more engaged at the theatre. People who are involved in theatre also tend to do better in school.

The sixth point Shalwitz makes is that theatres can improve the economy of small neighborhood. In the cases of this, in New York, Studio Theatre, Shakespeare theatre, and many others. All of these helped open up restaurants, Jobs improved. Sidewalks were fixed, and many other things happened to help the neighborhoods. The last point he makes is that theatre can make people see the problems in their own lives and figure out how to make them better. He said he encountered a couple, who discovered they needed to go to counselling in order to improve their relationship. While this does not happen to everyone, smaller things can help people in their lives.

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I think it is true that no harm can come from the theatre. It is a healthy environment and in my experience it is a very kind and accepting group of people. It is a good place to go for anyone who wants to have a good time. It also does teach people good morals as many shows have that goal in mind. I have also found that the theatre does in fact bring people together. My family outside the state often comes together, as well as my friends to support me and allows me to meet other people. The theatre definitely does help with debates and understanding conversation. I can now speak better in conversations and stutter less, now that I am involved with theatre. I have learned many things from theatre that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise, for example, In Fiddler on the Roof, I learned more about the history of jewish culture than I would have otherwise. I have never thought of theatre to improve economies of the areas they are set up in, and I don’t know exactly how that works, but it seems to make sense. Most events that take place in shows are based off real events and it makes scene that this makes people think about their own problems and how to solve them. Overall Shalwitz seems to have the right Idea of how theatre affects people.

I've seen now how theatre effects people, but not how people effect theatre. That is what I plan to research that next.